Talking about Paquito Navarro is talking about one of those players who go far beyond results. The Sevillian not only competes: he ignites matches, connects with the crowd, and turns every point into a small spectacle. Charisma, talent, and an unmistakable personality have made him an essential figure in the recent history of padel.
Who He Is
Francisco Jesús Navarro Compán, born in Seville on February 10, 1989, is known throughout the circuit as Paquito Navarro. For many, he is “The Hurricane of the Remedios Neighborhood”, a nickname that perfectly matches his way of living and playing this sport. He started hitting the ball with a racket at a very young age and quickly made it clear that he had something different. At just 5 years old, he was already playing padel, and by 10 years old, he was the world runner-up in his category.
His growth was constant, rapid, and very solid. He progressed through stages until he established himself among the big names in professional padel. One of the most important moments of his career came in 2019, when he reached the world number 1 position alongside Juan Lebrón. That achievement had special significance, as they became the first Spanish pair to reach that peak in the modern era of the circuit.
Standing at 1.81 meters tall with a strong presence on the court, Paquito has built a career based on consistency, talent, and an enormous ability to reinvent himself. As of April 2025, he continues to compete in the backhand position, the side where he best utilizes his power, imagination, and ability to disrupt the rhythm of any match.
Playing Style
If there is something that defines Paquito Navarro, it is his offensive, bold, and very electric padel. From the backhand side, he seeks to impose a high pace, gain the net, and punish any ball that is even slightly open. His game combines power, aggressiveness, and a creativity that makes him an unpredictable and very difficult player to read.
Technically, he is one of the most complete players on the circuit. His famous “blade”, that distinctive sliced wall drop, is one of his great trademarks. To this, we must add a tremendous hitting power, especially when he accelerates the ball over three, and lightning-fast reflexes at the net that allow him to resolve exchanges at a very high speed. But Paquito does not rely solely on the winning shot: he also has a very fine touch to vary heights, rhythms, and directions.
Tactically, he is a player who needs to feel like the protagonist of the point. He likes to take the initiative, apply pressure, and force the opponent to play uncomfortably. However, what truly makes him special is his ability to invent: unexpected resources, unorthodox shots, and solutions that appear when it seemed there was no way out. This mix of pure talent, competitive energy, and emotional connection with the match explains why each of his encounters has something different. And, of course, there is also his most recognizable side outside of hitting: that connection with the audience and his now-classic celebration of playing the “guitar” after a great point.
Achievements
- World champion with Spain on several occasions, including 2010 and 2021.
- First Spanish player to win the Spanish Championship in all categories, from benjamin to absolute.
- Number 1 in the World Padel Tour ranking in 2019, alongside Juan Lebrón.
- Winner of numerous titles in the professional circuit, both in World Padel Tour and Premier Padel.
- Has lifted trophies in prestigious tournaments such as the Masters Finals and notable events in Seville, Valencia, Miami, Valladolid, Santander, Vigo, or Doha.
- Has shared the court with great figures like Juan Martín Díaz, Sanyo Gutiérrez, Pablo Lima, Juan Lebrón, and Martín Di Nenno, achieving titles with several of them.
- Continues to be a key player and one of the most important names to follow in the major events of Premier Padel.